Combined cartridge ejector and retainer



Feb. l2, 1963 F. P. REED 3,077,044

COMBINED CARTRIDGE EJEcToR AND RETAINER Filed Nov. 2. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fl im@ ...g

I V EN TOR.

Feb. 12, 1963 F. P. REED 3,077,044

COMBINED CARTRIDGE EJECTOR AND REIAINER Filed Nov. 2, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. i '.FIEEI'IERREE.

a "B p n i l hired. tes ftice @di dit L www' @y "w i i i Patented Foto. i2, i953 ii is a pair of parallel, vertically disposed lips 34 which are 6571944 spaced from the front face thereof so as to be slidingly EQMBENE SARTR'DGE AND received by extractor groove 26B of a chambered cartridge it when the breech block is raised to the breech closed Frederick l). Reed, Ludiow, Mass., assigner to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Filed Nov. 2, web, Ser. No. 66,89 S Elanna. (Cl. Li2--2e) (Granted under Titia 35, Code (i952),

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The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to those mechanisms which retain a cartridge in the chamber of a firearm and eject iired cases therefrom.

In that class of firearms which are manually loaded for single shotV operation and which when loaded are often times elevated beyond the point where the chambered round is frictionally held against displacement in the chamber, it is necessary to provide some means for retaining the cartridge in the chamber while the breech is being closed, so as to prevent the cartridge from falling onto the ground or cause jamming of the breechlock when closed.

it is therefore the object of this invention to provide for such class of firearms, a retainer which is actuatable by the cartridges v hen inserted into the chamber of the lirearm, and which for simplicity of structure, also performs the function of ejecting the tired case.

rIhe specic nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FG. l is a longitudinally cross-sectioned View of the breech end of a firearm, showing a cartridge chambered therein and the breech block in the breech closed position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. l but showing the breech block in the breech open position and the retainer engaged with the extractor groove of a partially chambered cartridge;

FlG. 3 is a view similar to HG. 2 but showing a tired cartridge case partially ejected by the retainer;

PlG. 4 is a view taken along line d-Ai of G. i;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to MG. l but showing a different embodiment wherein the retainer is fabricated from an integral spring coil and loop;

FiG. 6 is a view similar to PEG. 5 but showing the relationship of the parts when the breech block is adjacent the breech open position thereof; and

FlG. 7 is a View taken along line 7-7 of FG. 5.

Shown in FGS. 1 4 is a firearm l2 having a barrel 14 with a chamber i5 for receiving a cartridge itl which is provided with a tapered case having an extractor groove 2@ disposed adjacent the base thereof to form a rim 22. A breech housing Z4 is threadingly mounted on the breech end of barrel ltd, and such breech housing is bifurcated rearwardly of the breech end of the barrel by a vertical channel 26. Channel 25 receives a breech block 23 which is slidingly disposed therein for vertical reciprocation between an upper breech closed position, and a lower breech open position by means of frange 3d and mating groove 3l. Flange 3i) and groove 3l are also formed so as to incline downwardly and rearwardly at approximately a 5 angle, whereby breech block 23 is moved forwardly towards the breech end of barrel i4, when it is raised to the breech closed position, for firmly pressing cartridge 18 into chamber le. Breech lock 28 is actuated manually between the breech closed and the breech open positions by handle operated lever means 32.

Formed integrally on the front end of breech block 2d position. whereby, the base of the chambered cartridge l is held in contact with the front face of breech block 2d and the longitudinal component of movement thereof, is transferred to cartridge i8 or the tired case thereof. The rear sides of the lips 34 are charnfered to provide at the upper end of each thereof, an angular surface 36 which inclines downwardly and rearwardly for guiding rim 22 of chambered cartridge ld in back of the lips during initial displacement of breech block Z8 from the breech open position.

Mounted on the top of breech housing 24 is a retainer housing 38 which is attached thereto by dovetail means dit. rEhe rear end of retainer housing 36 is bifurcated by a vertical crevice il to form a pair of laterally spaced ear portions i2 which supporta pin ftd extending transversely therethrough. Pin ii-'l is positioned so that the longitudinal axis thereof is disposed in a vertical plane which is spaced slightly forward of the plane occupied by lips 3d when breech block 2f is in the breech open position.

Pivotally mounted on pin 4d is a retainer d5 having a hole t8 for receiving the pin. Hole 4S is elongated to ermit vertical as well as pivotal displacement of retainer do, as hereinafter described. Retainer d6 is provided with a flap detent portion 59 having the same thickness as the width of extractor groove 2d so that end Sl of detent portion 5b is receivable thereby. End 51 is arcuately formed according to the radius of extractor groove Ztl, so as to provide full engagement of such end therewith. The front end of channel 26 extends suiciently forward in breech housing 24- to permit the forward displacement of detent portion Se by cartridge 18 when the cartridge is fully received by chamber 16.

Retainer 46 is also provided with a thumb piece 52 which extends upwardly above pin dal from detent portion to provide manual means for pivoting the retainer to displace the detent portion rearwardly and thereby withdraw a cartridge i8 or the tired case thereof from chamber i6.

There is provided in retainer housing 38, a bottomed bore Slt which extends forwardly from the front end of crevice di and such bore slidingly receives a cylindrical plunger $6 which is terminated at the rear end by a conical portion 53. A compressible coil spring ntl is disposed between the front end of plunger 56 and the bottom of bore 54 for biasing the plunger rearwardly to resiliently engage conical portion 5S with a cam projection 62 which protrudes forwardly from retainer i6 adjacent hole 48.

Bore da is formed so as to incline downwardly and rearwardly so that the extended longitudinal axis of plunger S6 intercepts the longitudinal axis of pin it and so as to clear dovetail means il and permit pin td to be positioned as low as possible in retainer housing for as low a silhouette thereof as possible.

The force of spring 6i? is transferred to retainer 486, so as to perform the functions of retaining cartridge i8 in chamber f6 and ejecting the fired case therefrom, through the camming cooperation of conical portion 58 with cam projection 62 and the angular application of force from the retainer to the cartridge or case thereof, as hereinafter described. Cam projection 62 is essentially triangular in longitudinal cross-section, and is provided with an ejection cam surface 64 which extends downwardly and forwardly from retainer i6 and a retainer cam surface 6d, which extends upwardly and forwardly from the retainer. Ejection cam surface 64 and retainer cam surface de intersect to form an apex 68..

As is especially well shown in FIG. l, when the tip of conical portion 58 contacts retainer cam surface 66, the translational displacement of plunger 56 by spring 60* is converted to pivotal displacement of retainer 46 in a counter-clockwise direction. There is also seen how the force applied to retainer 46 by plunger 56 is multiplied through the angular relationship between the plunger and retainer cam surface 66. In FIG. 2, it is seen that retainer 46 is biased for clockwise rotation, and with increased force, when the tip of conical portion 58 presses against ejection cam surface 64. Thus, when the tip of conical portion 58 is in contact with retainer cam surface 66, end 51 of detent portion' 50 is disposed forwardly of a center line x-x, at which the angular application of force from the detent portion lto cartridge 18 is zero. Whereby, the angular application of force from retainer 46 -to cartridge 18 presses the cartridge forwardly into chamber `16. It is also seeny that when lthe tip of conical portion 58 is in contact with ejection cam surface 64, end 51 is disposed rearwardly of center line x-x so thaty the angular application of force between the `detent portion and cartridge 18 forces the cartridge rearwardly out of chamber 16. It is, therefore, readily apparent that when the tip of conical portion 58 is in contact with apex 68, the point of contact between detent portion 50 and cartridge 18 lies on center line x-x.

Detent portion 5t) is resiliently held in a normal rearward position by the contact of ejection cam surface 64 with the angular side of conical portion 58, as shown in FIG. 2. Apex 68 is so related to ejection cam surface 64 that when detent portion 50 is in its normal rearward position and an upward pressure is applied against end 51 thereof, the apex has camming contact with the ejection cam surface to press plunger 56 forwardly against Vthe bias of spring 60 to return the detent portion to its normal rearward position when the upward pressure applied against the end of the detent portion is relieved.

Thus, firearm 12 is ready for loading when breech block 28 is in the breech open position' and detent portion 50 is in its normal rearward position. Firearm 12 is loaded by the manual insertion of cartridge 18 into chamber 16. As cartridge 18 is pushed into chamber 16, the cartridge case has sliding contact with end 51 of detent portion 5G Therefore, with the case of cartridge 18 being tapered, an upward force is applied to en'd 51 so that detent portion 50 is swung in a counter-clockwise direction from the normal rearward position thereof. consequently, when cartridge 18 is moved into chamber 16 to where detent 50 is in registry with extractor groove 20, end 51 is pressed thereinto, through the biased con'- itact of conical portion 58 of plunger 56 with retainer cam surface 66. During the final displacement of cartridge 18 into chamber 16, the contact of rim 22 with end 51 causes retainer 46 to be pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction, whereby 'apex 68 passes by conical portion 58 to move retainer cam surface 66 into contact with the conical portion. At the same time, end 5.1 is displaced, so as to be disposed forwardly of center line x-x, to press the engaged cartridge forwardly into chamber 16 with sufcient force to be held therein against gravitational forces.

With cartridge 18 resiliently held in chamber 16 by retainer 46, breech block 28 is free to be actuated by lever means 32 to the breech closed position. As breech block 28 moves upwardly in breech housing 24, the angular surfaces 36 on the lips 34 contact the front face of rim 22 4to initially displace the engaged cartridge 18 rearwardly for full engagement of the lips with extractor groove 20. During the remaining displacement of breech block 28 to the breech closed position, cartridge 18 is moved forwardly with the breech block which is provided with a longitudinal component of movement through the inclination of ange 30 and groove 31 for full engagement with chamber 16. As cartridge 18 is moved forwardly, and detent portion 50 is swung past center line x-x,

the angular distance between the axis of pin 44 and end 51 is reduced land this is compensated for by the elongation' of hole, as is especially well shown in FIG. l.

After cartridge 18 is red by a ring mechanism, which is not part of this invention, the red case is extracted from chamber 16 and ejected from firearm 12 by actuating lever means 32 to lower breech block 28 to the breech open position. As breech block 28 is lowered, itV is also moved rearwardly by flange and groove means 30, and therefore, throughV the engagement of lips 34 with extractor groove 20, the fired case is pulled rearwardly in chamber 16. With detent portion 50 being engaged with extractor groove 20, -retainer 46 is pivoted by the rearward displacement of the cartridge case to move cam projection 62 relative to conical portion 58, so that before breech block 28 reaches breech open position, the conical portion is in contact with ejection cam surface 64 and end 51 is moved rearwardly of center yline x-x. Consequently, when the base of the cartridge case is uncovered by breech block 28, the rearward bias applied by retainer 46 to the cartridge case causes it to be flipped from chamber 16.

In event the tired case is notl ejected from chamber 16 during the actuation of breech block 28 to the breech open position, or if it is necessary to remove a live car tridge from the chamber, prior to the closing of the breech block, the cartridge, or the tired case, may be manually ejected by pressing forwardly onl thumb piece 52.

Shown in FIGS. 5-7, is an embodiment of the invention wherein a retainer housing 72 is fixedly mounted to the top of breech housing 24 and the rear end of the retainer Ihousing is bifurcated to form a pair of laterally spaced ear portions 74, which 'are rearwardly disposed relative to the breech end of bar-rel 14. Mounted transversely through ear portions '74, is a pin 76, the longitudinal axis of which lies in a vertical plane spaced slightly forward of that in which lips 34 lie when breech block 28 is in the breech open position.

Pin 76 supports a retainer 78 having a double-armed spring coil Si) which receives the pin therethrough. One arm of coil 80 forms a loop 82 which is essentially U- shaped in configuration with the free end being curved to encircle pin 76 to assist in the pivotal support of the loop. The cross piece of loop 82, noted at 84, is curved acocr-ding to the radius of extractor groove 20, so as to be receivable thereby. Loop 82 extends radially from pin 76 sufficiently, so that cross piece 84 has full engagement with extractor groove 2i) when cartridge 18 engaged by the loop is in full chambered position.

The opposite arm of coil 80, noted at 86, is anchored -to retainer housing '72, so lthat displacement of loop 82 in' either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction will energize the coil and so that the loop, when the coil is deenergized, extends rearwardly of the center line of force x-x applicable from retainer 78 to cartridge 18 engaged thereby. Cross piece 84 is also positioned for sliding contact with the case of cartridge 18 forwardly of extractor groove during forward displacement of the cartridge into chamber 16.

Thus, when cartridge 18 is loaded into chamber `16, the case of the cartridge slidingly contracts cross piece 84, and because of the taper of the case, forces loop 82 upwardly to energize coil 80. Therefore, when extractor groove 20 comes into registry with cross piece 84, the cross piece is snapped thereinto. Continued movement of cartridge 18 into chamber 16 causes rotation of loop 82 to energize coil 80 and displace cross piece 84 forwardly of center line x-x. Whereby, the energy in coil 80 is converted to forward bias of cartridge 18 and thereby resiliently holds the cartridge in the'chamber.

From the foregoing, it is clearly apparent that there is provided herein, a retainer ejector device which per- :forms the dual functions of, retaining a cartridge in the chamber of a barrel, so that it will not be displaced therefrom by the 4force of gravity, and ejecting the tired case E.. therefrom with fthe device being positive in opera-tion, easy to manufacture, and rugged in construction.

lAlthough a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein, it is evident that many variations may be devised within the spirit and scope thereof and the following claims are intended to include such variations.

l claim:

l. For a firearm, having a Vbarrel with a chamber for receiving `a cartridge with an extractor groove, a breech block disposed for vertical reciprocation between a breech closed and a breech open position, and for simultaneous rearward longitudinal displacement towards the breech end of the barrel when moved to the breech closed position, and lips formed on the front end of the breech block for sliding engagement with the extractor groove of the cartridge to transfer the rearward longitudinal displacement of the breech block to the fired case of the cartridge in the chamber when the breech block is actuated to the breech open position, a device having the dual functions of retaining the cartridge in the chamber after insertion thereinto and ejecting the fired case of the cartridge therefrom during actuation of the breech block to the breech open position, the device including an energizable spring means, a pivotal member formed integral with said spring means and arranged to be engageable with the extractor groove of the cartridge yfor converting pivotal displacement of said pivotal member to longitudinal displacement of the cartridge forwardly into the chamber and of the fired cartridge case rearwardly therefrom, and means for directing the energy in said spring means to said pivotal member so that the cartridge engaged by said pivotal member is pressed into the barrel chamber when the area of engagement of said pivotal member with the extractor groove ofthe cartridge is forwardly of a center line of force extending at right angles from the axis of said pivotal means to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge, and so that the fired case of the cartridge is energized for ejection from the chamber when the area of engagement between the pivotal member and extractor groove is rearwardly of the center line of force.

2. 'lhe invention as dehned in claim l, wherein said spring means includes a double-armed coil which receives a supporting pin therethrough, and said pivotal member includes a U-shaped loop formed from one of the arms of said coil, said loop including a cross piece bent according to the radius of the extractor groove so ask to be receivable thereby.

3. For a firearm having a barrel with a chamber for receiving a cartridge with an extractor groove, a breech block disposed in a breech housing for vertical reciprocation therein between a breech closed and a breech apen position and for simultaneous longitudinal displacement towards the breech end of the barrel when moved to the breech closed position and lips formed on ,the front end of the breech block for sliding engagement with the extractor groove of the cartridge to transfer the rearward longitudinal displacement of the breech block to the `fired case of the cartridge in the chamber when the breech block is displaced to the breech open position, a device having the dual functions of retaining the cartridge in the chamber after insertion thereinto and ejecting the tired case of the cartridge therefrom during displacement of the breech block to the breech open position, the device including a retainer housing mounted on the top of said breech housing, a plunger slidingly received by a mating bore in said retainer housing for rearward extension therefrom, a spring disposed in said bore for resiliently pressing said plunger rearwardly, a retainer pivotally mounted on said retainer housing by means of a pin extending transversely therethrough, said retainer being provided with an end arcuately formed so as to be receivable by the extractor groove of the cartridge, cooperating cam means on said plunger and retainer disposed for transferring the energy in said spring through said retainer to the cartridge engaged thereby for retaining the engaged cartridge in the chamber after being inserted thereinto and for ejecting the fired case of the cartridge from the chamber after being displaced rearwardly by the breech block during actuation thereof to the breech open position.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3, wherein said pin is disposed so that the center line of force applicable from said spring to said end of said retainer is disposed forwardly of the plane in which the lips of the breech block lie when the breech block is in the breech open position.

5. The invention as defined in clairn 4, wherein said cam -means on said plunger is a conical portion formed on the rear end thereof and said cam means on said retainer includes a triangular cam projection disposed on the front side of said retainer yfor engagement by said conical portion.

6. The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein said cam means on said plunger is a conical portion formed on the rear end thereof and said cam means on said retainer includes a triangular cam projection disposed for engagement by said conical portion, said cam projection including an ejection cam surface disposed for contact by said conical portion to transfer the energy in said spring to said retainer for ejecting the fired cartridge case from the chamber after the iired cartridge case is displaced rearwardly by the breech block when actuated to the breech open position thereof, and said cem projection also including a retainer cam surface disposed for contact by said conical portion to transfer the energy in said spring to said retainer for retaining the cartridge engaged thereby in the chamber after being inserted thereinto.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6, wherein said cam ejection surface is disposed so as to be contacted by said conical portion when said end of said retainer is disposed rearwardly of the center line of force extending at right angles from the pivotal axis of said retainer to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge engaged thereby, and said retainer cam surface is disposed so as to be contactable by said conical portion when said end of said retainer is disposed rearwardly of the center line of force.

8. For a firearm having a barrel with a chamber for receiving a cartridge with an extractor groove, a breech block disposed for vertical reciprocation between a breech closed and a breech open position and for simultaneous rearward longitudinal displacement towards the breech end of the barrel when moved to the breech closed position, and lips formed on the front end of the breech block for sliding engagement with the extractor groove of the cartridge to transfer the rearward longitudinal displacement of the breech block to the tired case of the cartridge in the chamber when the breech block is actuated to the breech open position, a device having the dual function of retaining the cartridge in the charnber after insertion thereinto and ejecting the fired case of the cartridge therefrom during actuation of the breech block to the breech open position, the device including an energizable spring means, a pivotal member engageable with the extractor groove of the cartridge for converting pivotal displacement of said pivotal member to longitudinal displacement of the cartridge forwardly into the chamber and of the fired cartridge case rearwardly therefrom, and means for directing the energy in said spring means to said pivotal member so that the cartridge engaged by said pivotal member is pressed into the barrel chamber when the area of engagement of said pivotal member with the extractor groove of the cartridge is forwardly of a center line of force extending at right angles from the axis of said pivotal means to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge, and so that the iired case of the cartridge is energized for ejection from the chamber when the area of engagement between the pivotal member and extractor groove is rearwardly of the center line of force, and camming means interposed between said spring means land said pivotal member whereby said pivotal member is cammingly pressed forwardly by said spring means when the area of engagement between said pivotal member and the extractor group of the engaged cartridge is disposed forwardly of a center line of force extending at` right angles from the axis of said pivotal member to the longitudinal axis of the, ca rtridge and is cammingly pressed rearwardly when the area of engagement is disposed rearwardly of the center line of force.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

3. FOR A FIREARM HAVING A BARREL WITH A CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING A CARTRIDGE WITH AN EXTRACTOR GROOVE, A BREECH BLOCK DISPOSED IN A BREECH HOUSING FOR VERTICAL RECIPROCATION THEREIN BETWEEN A BREECH CLOSED AND A BREECH OPEN POSITION AND FOR SIMULTANEOUS LONGITUDINAL DISPLACEMENT TOWARDS THE BREECH END OF THE BARREL WHEN MOVED TO THE BREECH CLOSED POSITION AND LIPS FORMED ON THE FRONT END OF THE BREECH BLOCK FOR SLIDING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE EXTRACTOR GROOVE OF THE CARTRIDGE TO TRANSFER THE REARWARD LONGITUDINAL DISPLACEMENT OF THE BREECH BLOCK TO THE FIRED CASE OF THE CARTRIDGE IN THE CHAMBER WHEN THE BREECH BLOCK IS DISPLACED TO THE BREECH OPEN POSITION, A DEVICE HAVING THE DUAL FUNCTIONS OF RETAINING THE CARTRIDGE IN THE CHAMBER AFTER INSERTION THEREINTO AND EJECTING THE FIRED CASE OF THE CARTRIDGE THEREFROM DURING DISPLACEMENT OF THE BREECH BLOCK TO THE BREECH OPEN POSITION, THE DEVICE INCLUDING A RETAINER HOUSING MOUNTED ON THE TOP OF SAID BREECH HOUSING, A PLUNGER SLIDINGLY RECEIVED BY A MATING BORE IN SAID RETAINER HOUSING FOR REARWARD EXTENSION THEREFROM, A SPRING DISPOSED IN SAID BORE FOR RESILIENTLY PRESSING SAID PLUNGER REARWARDLY, A RETAINER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID RETAINER HOUSING BY MEANS OF A PIN EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THERETHROUGH, SAID RETAINER BEING PROVIDED WITH AN END ARCUATELY FORMED SO AS TO BE RECEIVABLE BY THE EXTRACTOR GROOVE OF THE CARTRIDGE, COOPERATING CAM MEANS ON SAID PLUNGER AND RETINER DISPOSED FOR TRANSFERRING THE ENERGY IN SAID SPRING THROUGH SAID RETAINER TO THE CARTRIDGE ENGAGED THEREBY FOR RETAINING THE ENGAGED CARTRIDGE IN THE CHAMBER AFTER BEING INSERTED THEREINTO AND FOR EJECTING THE FIRED CASE OF THE CARTRIDGE FROM THE CHAMBER AFTER BEING DISPLACED REARWARDLY BY THE BREECH BLOCK DURING ACTUATION THEREOF TO THE BREECH OPEN POSITION. 